Playing-card dealing apparatus



vAug. 18, 1936. w. c. MILES PLAYING CARD DEALING APPARATS Filed June 23, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTCU @W2/f M A TTORNEYS HIE Aug. 18, 1936. w. c. MIJ- Es PLAYING CARD DEALING- APPARATUS 9 sheets-Sheet 2 Z4! Il 243 BY /Vzzw @l f l ATTORNEYS ug.'18, 1936. w C- MlLEs 2,0515615 yHLAYNG GARD DEALING ARBARATUS Filed June 2s, 193s 9,. Sheets-sheet s lllllllllll-l@ 56 nm'iin E y 91 {IllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllll INVENTQR @l ff Zw@ ATTORNEYS Aug; 1s, 1936. w. c. MILES f 2.051,615

y PLAYING CARD DEALING APPARATUS v l Filed June 25; 195s ej'sneets-she'et 4 L ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1936-. w. c; MILES 2,051,615

f-LAYING CARD DELING l APPARATUS 9 vsneets--sheet s Eiled June 2 3.

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lNVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1936. w. c.- MILEs 2,051,615

'PLAYING CARD DEALIG APPARATUS Filed June 2s, 19:53 9 sheets-Sheet s @all INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aug.'18, 1936. iw. c. MlLl-:s A 2,05l;615

PLAYING CARD DEALINQABPARATUS Filed June 23, 1935 9. sheets-SM5#l 7 @ffy-f4 @7915 @7416-4 Q d (j 6 9 g if@N u (i219 Y zza 219 www Q is @29.20. y @79.51. 1Q@ 1p@ 194 K 159 1,66

f l l l l y d ,fl/,llf/z/I. n www l Y l M191 A492 191 V 1 @42932.- 'J axggZ).v zap zs 1,94' ad 1%"169 llNvEN'roR Aug( 18, 1936. w. c. MILES 2,051,615

\ PLAYING CARD DEALING PPARATUS Filed June ,25, 195s e sheets-sheets 1 NvENToR I g ATTORNEYS vAug.'18, 1936. W. c. MILES PLAYING CARD DEALINQ APPARATUS 9 sheets-sheet 9- Fled June 23, 1935 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented ug. 18, Y1.936y

UNiTsn STATES PATENT oFFlcE PLAYING-CARD DEALING; APPARATUS William C. Miles, White Plains, N. Y. Application June ,23, 1933, serial N. 677,236

2v claims. 01. 273-149) Y This invention relates to card sorting machines, and is herein illustrated as embodied in a playingcard dealing apparatus admirably adapted for use in the dealing of bridge hands.

Concerning the game of bridge as played today, there are two outstanding variations-one being known as duplicate bridge and the other as rubber bridge.

Inthe playing of duplicate bridge, it is essential that provision shall be made to enable the North-South partners to hold the identical hands previously held by the East-West partners, and to that end it has been customary to employ a series of decks of cards and a correspo-nding number of what are coimnonly known as duplicate boards, into the pockets of which are placed the cards constituting, respectively, the hands of North, South, East and West on the rst half-play and, respectively, the hands of East, West, South and North on the second half-play so that relative partnership skill may be determined with a fair degree of accuracy for a given contest.

As to rubber bridge, however, the cards are dealt to the respective players North, East, South and West without intent to allot to any partners, for example North-South, any hands previously dealt to their opponents West-East, the successive complete deals being made by the players in rotation.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable, and otherwise highly satisfactory apparatus, for use in connection with the playing of duplicate games such as duplicate bridge, by which predetermined hands may be automatically dealt to the respective players, North-South, East-West, on a given deal and by which such hands may beV duplicated on another deal, so that the partners North-South may hold the hands previously held by the partners West- East and so that the partners East-West may hold the hands previously held by the partners North- South.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in an apparatus of the character mentioned, whereby the apparatus may be rendered ineffective with respect to the dealing and duplication of predetermined hands and at the same time rendered eiective as an instrumentality for automatically dealing the cards to the respective players North, East, South, West, without exercising any control over the distribution of the cards in so far as their suit or their denomination-- al values are concerned.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a card table especially constructed and admirably adapted for use in the one embodiment of the invention herein illus- 5 trated; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the table; Fig.

3 is a somewhat enlarged plan view of the deck holder and its associated card ejecting means; Fig. Llis a vertical, central, longitudinal sectional View of the deck holdershowing its relation-tow the table top and to certain elements of the card ejecting means; Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the Ylower right-hand corner of the table withY the top broken away and with the selector switch unit removedA with the view to illustrating a selec- 15 tor adapted for use in dealing a predeterminedv hand vto each of four players; Fig.V 6 isja viewin elevation ofthe mechanism appearing in Fig. 5 and showing the selector switch unit inoperative position with respect to the selector; Fig. 'l is a vertical, central, sectional View of themechanism appearing in Fig. 6; Fig'. 8 is a View similar to that v of Fig/6 and showing the mechanism thereof as viewed from the right; Fig. 9 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the rotatable selector-carrying support appearing in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive; Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the card-receiving pockets or stations andthe delivery end of its associated conveyor; Fig. 12 is a View in elevation of the card-receiving pocket or station of Fig. 1 and the portion of its associated conveyor appearing therein; Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive are face views of diierent playing cards, each constituting a part of a Vdeck of cards adapted for use in the apparatus embodying the present invention, in which deck all of the cards possess diierent physical characteristics according to theirirespective suit and denominational value; Fig. 17 is a plan view of a chart, herein shown for the purpose of facilitating an explanation of the hand-values represented by the selector appearing in Fig. 5; Fig. 18 is a wiring diagram illustrating the various control circuits employed in the herein illustrated embodiment of the invention; Fig. 19 shows a slightly modified portion of the Wiring diagram of Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmental, sectional view, showing one of the spring-finger contacts inrelation to its associated conductor strip, i the section being identical with that of Fig. 7; Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmental view of a peripheral portion of the closure of Fig, 7, and showing-a conductor-strip-receiving notch and recess; Fig. 22 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken on line 22-22 of Fig. 9; Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken on line 23-23 of Fig. 9; and Fig. 24 is a fragmental plan View showing the relative positions of the fixed contacts over which moves the frictionally driven contact arm of Figs. 6 to 8.

Although the various elements, combinations of elements and sub-combinations of elements entering into and forming a part of the present invention may be enclosed by or carried Within various types of enclosures of housings, the particular means for performing that function is herein illustrated as a table closely approaching in general appearance an ordinary bridge table and adapted to be employed as such. The table I0 includes a metal bottom il, which is adapted to support either directly or indirectly all of the essential mechanism of the apparatus and to which are connected a plurality -of foldable or collapsible legs i2. Secured to and projecting 11pwardly from the outer margins of the table bottom are a plurality of side walls I4 which, at their upper margins, are flared outwardly so as to add to the finished appearance of the table and at the same time provide a ledge I5 adapted to receive and support a table top I6 which is provided on its upper or playing surface with a felt or other yieldable facing I l.

As shown most clearly in Figs. l and 4, the table top Iii is provided with a central opening I8 through which a deck of playing cards I9 may be introduced into a deck holder 29 from which the individual cards, hereinafter more particularly described with respect to their physical characteristics, are to be delivered to various stations. With the opening i8 is associated a. cover 2| which, like the table top I6, is provided on its upper surface with a felt or other facing I'I'. The closure 2i is connected by a lspring hinge 22 to the vertical iiange of an angle frame 23, which ange is confined within the opening I8, whereas its associated horizontal flange is let into and suitably secured to the lower face of the table top adjacent the opening thereof. In order that the closure 2I may be locked in its closed position, the angle frame is provided with a latch 24, which 'is normally urged to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, under the influence of its associated compression spring E3, the outer end of the latch being adapted to enter a notch 26 provided in the 'adjacent depending flange of the closure as such closure is moved from an open position to its closed position'. The latch '213 may be retracted against the inuence of 'its associated spring 25 by a release plunger 2 which is provided with an actuating button '28 and is normally held in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 4, by its associated compression spring '23. The plunger 2l projects through a slot 3i), formed in the latch 24, and is provided with a cam surface adapted to cooperate with a similar surface provided on the latch at one end of its slot, said cam surfaces being shown in their normal relations to each other and indicated jointly by the numeral 3 I. Although the buttonactuated plunger 2i is not visible from above the table top, due to the presence of the overlying felt or other yieldable facing II, it may be readily depressed, to the slight extent necessary to effect the release of the latch 24 and thereby permit the closure to open under the influence of its associated spring hinge 22, by applying a slight pressure :to the facing at a point directly over the actuating button 28.

The deck holder 20 includes a Vplurality of side walls `32, which are secured together at their vertical meeting edges and are supported by a plu'- rality of brackets 34, mounted for vertical adjustment on a plurality of vertically disposed anglelike supports 35, which are suitably connected to the table bottom Ii and the wing portions of which serve as bearings for a plurality of shafts and driving connections, hereinafter more particularly described.

The bottom of the deck holder 2li is spaced at all points from the lower edges of the respective side walls 32 a distance equal to the thickness of the respective cards of the deck, such distance being determined to a nicety, at the time the apparatus is initially assembled, by vertically adjusting -the side walls of the deck holder to a proper position before securing them in a permanently spaced relation to the bottom of the deck receiver by the vertically adjustable brackets 34 hereinbefore described. The bottom 36 of the deck holder includes a metal plate 31, on which the deck lof cards I9 is directly supported and to which is secured a relatively thick slab 38 of insulating material, lsuch as Bakelite, having formed therein a plurality of contact receiving pockets, hereinafter more particularly described, over which is secured a facing 40 of insulating material, preferably Bakelite. The bottom 36 is held in a definite position by reason of the fact that the corners of the slab 38 are confined within a plurality of notches 4I formed in the vertical supports 35 at the corners thereof. As shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the metal plate 31 is cut away to provide a plurality of notches 42 through which the respective cards, as they successive'ly assume card ejecting positions in the deck holder, may be acte-d on by card ejecting means, hereinafter more particularly described. to eiect an initial movement of the cards toward the various stations to which they are to be delivered.

The above-mentioned card ejecting means includes a plural-ity of ejector units 51, each of which includes a shaft 48, journalled at its o-pposite ends in adjacent supports 35 and provided with an `ejector roller 53, which includes a core 5I of 'insulating material, carrying thereon a metal sleeve 52, which is maintained in wiping engagement with Aa brush contact 53, secured to a Asupporting frame 43, of insulating material, which is supported in 'a definite position by reason of the fact lthat its corners are conned within notches 44 formed in the corners of the supports 35. On the 'shaft '43 is pivotally supported a pair of bellcrank levers '54, each having a horizontal arm h and a depending arm d, as shown in Fig. 4. Within the outer ends of the bell-crank arms h, is journalled a shaft 33, to which is connected a friction roller 5S, adapted to be moved into cardengaging position by way of one of the openings 42 .formed in .the plate 3l. This roller is connected to the ejector roller 58 by a train of gears, 51., V523 and 59, the first of which is secured to the shaft 48, the second of which is supported by one of the bell-crank arms h, and the third of which is secured to the shaft E5. Disposed above and normally contacting with the ejector roller 5I), isa metal pressure roller 6D, which is carried by a metal lshaft 6I, journalled vat its opposite ends ina pair of spring bearings 62, which are secured `to and `insulated from the wall 23 of the deck holder 2U through the medium of a block 64 of suitable insulating material.

1n order that the Iejector rollers 58 may be rota-ted in unison, their shafts V48 are connected together by a plurality of pairs of bevel gears 85, as shown in Fig. 3. The direction of rotation of any one of the ejector rollers 50 is such that any card presented to it and its contacting pressure roller 88, under the influence of their associated friction roller 56, will be gripped between the ejector roller and the pressure. roller and moved further toward the station to which that card is to be delivered, it being noted that the friction rollers 55, due to the presence of their respectively associated intermediate gears 5S, will rotate in the direction of their corresponding ejector rollers.

In the herein illustrated embodiment of the invention, the stations N, E, S, W, to which the cards are to be delivered are located within the table I0 at the res ective margins thereof, access to the stations being had through suitable openings 88 formed in the side Walls I4 of the table. Each of the stations N, E, S, W, includes an inclined card-receiving plate 8l, having at its opposite margins a pair of upwardly extending anges 68 and providedat its lo-wer end with an outwardly movable dcor or card-stop lll, pivotally connected to the plate el by a spring hinge l I, which normally retains the stop in a vertical position. The card-receiving plate 8l is secured to outwardly extending flanges l2 provided at the upper margins of a pair of vertical supports lll, the lower outwardly extending flanges 'l5 of which are provided with elongated openings lt, through which bolts 'il may be passed for securing the vertical supports to the bottom il of thetable', the elongated slots permitting lateral adjustment of the supports toward or away from the center of the table so that the belts of the card delivering conveyo-rs, hereinafter more particularly described, may be tightened as required. In order that the doors 'i8 may be maintained properly positioned or normally flush with the side walls I4 of the table, as shown in Fig. i2, despite any lateral adjustment that may be made of the supports l, the plate Si is adjustably secured to the outwardly projecting flanges 'i2 of the supports by a plurality of bolts 'H8 which pass through elongated openings i9 formed in the flanges on which the plates rest.

The delivery means for carrying the cards, when released from between the ejector rollers 553 and the pressure rollers 58, to the various stations N, E, S, W, is herein shown as comprising a plurality of endless conveyors N E', S', W', one of which, herein shown as the conveyor W', may be utilized as a medium by which power of rotation rnay be delivered from a suitable power source, such as an electric motor M, tothe several ejector rollers 58, and in turn to the remaining conveyors N', E', S'. Each of the conveyors includes a pair of pulleys 88 andV 8i, carried by shafts 82 and 8B, the former of which is journalled in adjacent pairs of supports 35 and the latter of which is disposed adjacent its corresponding station and journalled in the upper margin of the supports lli on which the inclined plate El of that station is supported. Passing about each pair of pulleys dii-8L is an endless conveyor belt Sii on which the cards delivered from its associated ejector roller 5@ and pressure roller 88 are deposited and by Which they are thereafter carried to the respective stations where they are permitted to fall by gravity from the delivery end of the conveyor onto its associated inclined plate 6l. As to the conveyor W', it will be noted from Fig. 3 that its associated shaft 82 is connected tothe shaft V48 ofv its associated ejector roller 50 through a pair of trains of gears Y 85-85, 86-86, 8'|-'8`I, thev rst pair of whichk gears 85-85 are connected to opposite ends of the shaft 82,v the second pair of, which gears 88-88 are carried by Yadjacent supports 35, and the third pair of which gears lil-8l are connected to the opposite ends of the shaft 88. By reason of the presence of the intermediate gears 86, it will be understood Ythat. the direction of rotation of the ejector roller 5e associated with the conveyor W will correspond to the direction of linear travel of the upper reach of the conveyor belt S of that conveyor, which direction of travel is indicated by the arrow appearing in Figs; l and 3. As to the conveyors N', E', S', their conveyor belts 8f3 are driven in a direction correiv spending to the direction of travel o-f the ccn-l veyor belt of the co-nveyor W by reason of the fact that their associated pulleys 88 are con Y nected to the respective ejector rollers 50 through trains of gears 85', 88', and Sl. which correspond to and are mounted in a mannersimilar to the trains of gears 85--85, 88--85 and Sil-8l, here' inbefore described` Y The power transmitting means by which the motor M is-connected to the conveyor W' includes a horizontal shaft 88 provided at one end with a spur gear 90 meshing with a similar gear 9| which is secured to the shaft of the motor. The shaft 88 is journalled in a. pair of bearings 92 which are carried by a base plate 94 on which the motor M is mounted. Intermediate the bearings 92, the shaft 88 is provided with a spiral gear95 Which meshes with 4a similar gear 98 secured to a ho-rizontal shaft 9T, which is journalled in a pair of bearings 98 carried by the base plateV 9s, the shaft 9T being provided at its outer end with a spur gear |00 meshing with a similar gear I8I secured to one end of the shaft 83 on which the pulley 8 IA of the conveyor W is carried. Projecting upwardly from the base 98 is a boss |02 having fixed `therein a stubshaft |94 about which a turntable driving shaft |05 is adapted to rotate, the shaft |05 being journalled in the-hub-like bearing |86 of a spider I5?, supported in a xed position by a pair of brackets |08 which depend from diametrically opposed arms |I0 of the spider and are secured to the base plate 94. To the shaft I 05 are connected a worm gear III and a worm |'I2, the former of which meshes withca worm 99 carried by the shaft 88, and the latter of which meshes with a worm geal- I4 carried by a shaft ||5 journalled in a pair of bearings IIB and III carried by the base plate 94. The shaft I I5 is adapted to operate anautomaticallyV actuated switch mechanism IIB, the function of which will hereinafter more clearly appear. This switch mechanism includes a switch control-disc |29, which is secured to the outer end of the shaft I|5 and is provided in its periphery with a notch I2 I. bearing II'I, is a switch-support |22 on which is mounted an ordinary toggle switch |24, having an actuating lever I 25 housed within the table I0 and provided with an operating key or button |26,- projecting through a side wall I4 of the table Where it may be'readily moved to closed-circuit position, it being understood that as the switch is closed by the key or button |26 the actuating lever Y |25 willbe moved in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. Pivotally connected to the switch support |22 is a switch actuating bell-crank lever |21, one endv of which is pro- Extending from the vided with a yoke |28, embracing the outer end of the actuating lever |25 and the other end of which is provided with a roller |30, adapted to enter the notch I 2| of the disc I 20 under the influence of a switch-actuating spring I3 I, secured to the support |22 and adapted to exert a switchopening inuence on the bell-crank lever |21. The switch |24 is adapted, when actuated by the key or button |25, to close the power circuit, hereinafter more particularly described, of fthe motor M, the closing operation of the switch being such that the roller |30 is moved outwardly from the notch |2| of the disc |20. Upon closing the motor circuit the disc |20 begins to rotate, whereupon the peripheral surface of the disc |20 moves under the roller |30 and serves to retain the bellcrank lever |21 in closed-circuit position against the inuence of the spring |3| until such time as the disc has completed one revolution, whereupon the notch |2| is presented to the roller |30, allowing the spring |3| to move the bell-crank lever |21 in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby forcing the actuating lever |25 in a clockwise direction to bring about an open-circuit condition of lthe switch |24 and stop the motor M, the gear ratio between the gears I|2 and I|4 `being such that the disc makes one complete revolution for every fourteen revolutions of the shaft |05.

To the upper end of the shaft v| 65, which is provided with a longitudinal openingor chamber |32, there is connected a turntable |34, of suitable insulating material such as Bakelite, to lthe lower peripheral margin of which is connected a commutator ring |35, provided, as shown most clearly in Fig. 10, with four groups of suit contacts, which, in their respective groups, are offset at varying distances from the center of rotation of the turntable and are indicated by the reference characters S, H, D, C. As to these contacts, it will be noted that all of the S contacts, all vof the H contacts, all of the D contacts and vall of the C contacts, are in circular alignment, reference being had to the `center of rotation of ithe turntable |34, the S contacts being at a greater distance from the center of rotation than the .H contacts, the H contacts being at a greater distan-ce from the center of rotation than the D contacts, and the D contacts being at a greater distance from the center of rotation than the C contacts. To the upper face of the turntable |34, is connected a metal plate |36 having a depending .co-mmutator flange |31 which embraces the upper peripheral surface of the turntable and is provided with a plurality of contact segments N, fE, S, W disposed out of alignment withleach other and spaced circumferentially from each other.

Within the chamber |32 of the shaft |05, is disposed a vertically movable shaft .I 33., of insulating material such as Bakelite; which is .square throughout the greater portion of its length and presents at its lower end a cylindrical surface |39 slidably engaging the wall of `the chamber. `The square portion of the shaft |38 projects through and is slidable within a square opening |40., formed in the metal plate |36 centrally thereof and serving to insure the `shaft |38 against rotation with respect to the shaft |505 kwithout inter--V tering with relative Vertical movement therebetween. The shaft |38 is provided with a Icentral longitudinal opening |4 within which is conned a compression spring |42, `by which the shaft |38 may be moved upwardly'withrespect to the shaft |05. The shaft |38 presents aat its upper end a neck |43 adjacent to which is 'formed a-shoulder' |44, onto which 'neck and into engagement with which shoulder is forced the hub portion |45 of a relatively thin metal disc |46, which is adapted to rotate with the turntable |34 under certain conditions and to be elevated by the spring |42 under other conditions to a position flush with or slightly above the surface of the table top I6. The upper end of the shaft 38 is provided with a central longitudinal socket |41, the purpose of which will hereinafter more clearly appear.

Supported by one of the arms |0 of the spider |51, a-re a plurality of spring-finger contacts |52, |53, |54 and |55 which are adapted to engage the suit contacts S, H, D, C, respectively, carried by the commutator ring |35, the contacts |52 to |55 being held in position on the spider |51 and insulated therefrom by a pair of strips |56 of insulating material between which are impinged the terminal portions of the finger contacts. Carried by the same arm that supports the contacts |52 to |55 inclusive, are a plurality of similar contacts |51 to |5| inclusive, the rst four of which are adapted to engage the contact segments N, E, S and W in order, and the last of which is maintained in constant engagement with the periphery of the commutator ring |35, the contacts |51 to |5|, like the contacts |52 to |55, being held in position on the spider |01 and insulated therefrom by a pair of strips |55 of insulating material between which are impinged the terminal portions of the finger contacts |51 to |6l. As shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and 8, the upper end of the arms ||0 of the spider |01 are connected together by Webs forming a rim |62, to which are connected a pair of rings |54 and |65, of insulating material such as Bakelite, the latter of which is provided at its upper margin with an outwardly projecting flange |55. Bctween the rings |64 and |65 are clamped the terminal portions of a plurality of spring-finger contacts |51 to |84 inclusive, the upper or hook-like end of which projects through openings formed in the vertical portion of the ring |55, which is disposed directly beneath an opening |86 formed in the table top vl5 and having a diameter somewhat greater than the inside diameter oi the ring |55.

For the opening |85, there is provided a removable closure |31, the upper portion or plate |88 of which is provided with a plurality of peripheral recesses |88 and is formed with a peripheral ange |89, adapted to rest von the upper surface of the flange |65 of the ring |55. The closure |81 serves not only as a cover for the opening |86 but also as a plunger-contact-carrier unit, and includes a disc |98 of insulating material which is secured to the plate |33 and is pron vided at its peripheral margin with an upwardly extending flange |9| which is provided with a plurality of notches |9| and engages the peripheral margin of the plate |00, the disc |90 forming with the plate |58 a lateral chamber |92, within which are disposed a plurality of vertically disposed spring pressed plunger-contacts |61 to |19', the lower ends of which are confined for vertical movement within a plurality of openings formed in the disc |90, as shown in Fig. 7, and the upper ends of which carry their respectively associated compression springs |93. The upper ends of the springs |93 engage the inner ends of a plurality of conductor strips |510 to |150, which are suitably connected to the lower face of theplate |88. The outer ends of the conductor strips |610 to |190 pass through certain of the notches |9I, already mentioned, and are turned up so as to present contact areas |94 which are adapted to engage the respective spring finger contacts |81 to |19 inclusive and are confined within certain of the recesses |88 formed in the periphery of the plate |88.

Centrally journalled in the plate |88, is a vertical shaft |95, which is provided at its lower end with a circular contact flange |96 and which at its upper end is provid-ed with a knob |91, with which is associated an indicator-contact arm |98, th-e knob |91 serving to facilitate removal and replacement of the closure |81 as well as to enable the contact arm |98 to be so positioned as to select the station with respect to which the successive deals are to begin when the apparatus is employed as a dealing device without regard to allotment of denite cards to pre-selected stations. The lower end of the shaft |95 is reduced so as to provide a depending shank 298, which is split and adapted to be introduced into the socket |41 of the shaft |38 to establish therewith a friction driving connection when the closure |81 is placed in an operative position within the opening |86 of the table top i6, it being noted that the closure |81 can assume only one position within such opening due to the presence of an index pin 202, Fig. 5, carried by the ring |65 and adapted to enter an index notch formed in the peripheral edge or margin of the plate |88. VThe contact arm |98, which is carried by the shaft |95, is adapted to successively engage a plurality of contacts 294, 285, 298 and 291, which are exposed at the top of the plate |88 directly beneath the sweep of the outer end of the arm |98 and project downwardly through the plate into the chamber |92 where they are connected to a plurality of conductor strips 294e to 291e, the outer ends of which pass through certain of the notches |9|, hereinbefore mentioned, and are turned up so as to present contact areas |94 which are adapted to engage the spring-finger contacts |89 to |83 and are confined within certain of therecesses |88 formed in the periphery of the plate |88. Within the chamber |92 is fixed a lead-in conductor strip 288, one end of which is provided with a brush contact 2|9, adapted to maintain engagement with the contact flange |95 of the shaft |95, and the other end of which is bent up and projects through one of the notches I9 already described, where it is again bent up so as to present a contact area |94 which is adapted to engage the spring-linger contact |84 and which is conned within one of the recesses |88 formed in the'periphery of the plate |88.

By reason of the presence of the spring |42 in association with the shaft |38, it will be understood that when the closure |81 is removed the shaft 638 will be elevated, carrying with it its associated disc |46 to a position flush with or slightly above the surface of the table top I6 so as to permit a selector 2| l, representative of predetermined hands for the respective stations, to be placed in an operative position on that disc, which selector may be equally as readily Vremoved when the disc |96 is again presented after the dealing operation. The selector herein shown,V

and of which there may be as many different patterns as there are possible different groups of hands in a deck of cards, is representative, under certain conditions hereinafter more particularly described, of the following hands t0 be dealt to theV respective players', designatedrfor convenience as North, East, South, West.

The selector 2|| is inthe form of a thin disc of suitable insulating material, such as relatively stili cardboard of iinetexture, nbre, Bakelite, and Celluloid of a noneinlammable character. The selector disc is provided with a plurality of defi' nitely positioned perforations 2| l', there being iifty-two such perforations, of' which thirteenY are formed in each quadrant of'thevdisc representing the thirteen cards that are to be -dealt to the respective players.V It is through these perorations that the spring-pressed plunger contacts |61' to |19 are adapted to be moved into engagement with the metal disc |48 as that disc is rotated-it being noted that a Vpositive driving connection is aiordedy between the selectorv2|| and the disc |46 by an upwardly projecting lug 2|2 which is carried by the disc and Vadapted to be received by either-the notch 2|3 or the notch 2|4 provided in the peripheral'marginof the selector disc. When the selector disc isso positioned that the vlug 2|2 is conned within the notch 2|3, the cards-will be delivered to the players according to the above schedule;k butwhen the selector is so positioned Vthat the lug 2|2 is conned within the notch 2 |4 the handsv set forth in that schedule as assigned to North, East, South, and West will be delivered to East, South, West, and North, respectively. Allotmentv of the firstnamed order is effected because Iwhen the Vselector is placed in the first of the above-mentioned positions, the perforations 2| I of the North, East,v South, and West quadrants of the selector are rendered effective with respect to the plunger contacts |61' to |19 during such timeias rthe contact segments N, E, S",'and W engage the spring-linger contacts |51, |58,`f|59 and |69 respectively; and allotment 'oi .the second-named order is effected because when the'selector 2|`| is shifted to its `second position 'above mentioned, the perforations 2| of the North, East, South and West quadrants of the selector are rendered effective with respect to the plunger contacts |61 to |19' during such time as the contact segments E, S", W"- and N" engage the spring-finger contacts |58, |59, |69 and |51 respectively.

For a further understandingV of the relative positions of the perforations 2'| I of the selector herein shown, and of the hand values represented by that selector, reference-may beA had to the chart of Fig. 17 wherein the small circles of the North, East, South, and West quadrants correspond in position to the perforations 2H of the selector 2| I. From this chart it'will be observed that the denominational''position of the perforations are represented by thirteen concentric circles, which are herein illustrated, as ranging in value from the deuce to the ace-when con- Y sidered radially from the common center of the circles. Moreover, it will be noted that the suits are distributed in a` counter-clockwise direction over the respective quadrants inthe order of clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades, and that the possible positions for the perforations peculiar to each suit may be on two radii," all of such radii being equally angularly spaced within the :re-

spective quadrant a distance corresponding to the angle between the radii on which the plunger contacts 1.61 to 119' are disposed in the closure 181. By reason of the fact that the radii, common to the respective suits of the respective quadrants, are angularly spaced in accordance with the angular relation between the radii on which the plunger contacts 161A to 119 are disposed, the diameter of the selector 2.11, the turntable 134 and the closure |81 may be kept at a minimum, thus conserving space that these parts. of the apparatus would otherwise consume.A

Referring tothe cards of the deck 19, it is to be noted that they are individually characterized because of their respective physical characteristics, as will be readily understood from thev disclosure of Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive, wherein cards of diierent suits and of diierent denominational values are shown, to wit, 8 of hearts, '7 of spades, 6 of diamonds, 5v of clubs. Each card of the spade suit is provided, as shown in Fig. 14, on its face with a. suit-contact area 2115, which may be in the form of asmall disc of metal foil adhesively or otherwise attached to the face of the card centrally thereof or in the form of a metallicy substance electrolytically` or otherwise suitably deposited on and xed' to the face of the card'. Each card of the heart suit, the diamond suit and the club suit is also provided similarly with a pair of suit-contact areas 216,. 211 and' 218, asshown. in Figs. 13, 15 and 16, respectively, it being noted in Fig. 13 that the spade, diamond and club contact areas are indicated in dotted lines, in order to illustrate the diferent'positions that these con'-l tacty areas occupy in a vertical central plane passing-longitudinally through adeck ofsuperimpcsed cards, registeringV witheach other asf when they are held in the deck holder' 26'. Each card of. each` suit carries a pair of complementally positioned denomination-contact areas 219, those shown in full lines in Figs.. 13, 141,. 15, and 16 being peculiar to' cards having the value of eight, seven, six', and ve.. and those indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 13 being peculiarl to card-values ranging from. the two-spot tothe nine-spot, both. inclusive, and from the seven-spotV to the ace', both. inclusive, when considered in the order of the direction-indicated by the arrows A adjacent the respective imaginary vertical planesV intersecting the respective groups of denomination-contact areas when passingv vertically throughv a deck ofi superimposed cardsregistering'wizth each other as when they are held in the deck' holder 211.

From the foregoing, it' will be understood that no two of the nifty-two cards of the deck 19 have the same physical characteristics, inasmuch as the relation of suit-contact' areas to denomination-contact areas on no two cards is the same, the: factor of dissirnilarity4 being taken advantage of, as hereinafter more clearly appear, in; eiecting the allotment of' predetermined hand values to predetermined stations or players'.

The cards when placed in the. deck holder 211 are positioned with their faces'down so that their suit contact areas- 215 to.Y 218 inclusive may'cooperate with a plurality' of suit-contact-areaengaging plunger contacts 225i to 223 inclusive.. These plungers are carriedwithin contact-receiving pockets 224, provided' in thel slab 38' of insulating materialr which is included as an element of the bottom 36Y of thek deck holder 22. The plunger-contactsi221J-223 are urged upwardly by their associated.- compression springs 225- which are held against displacement by the facing 46 of insulating material through which the lower endsv of' the contacts project, the upper ends of the contacts projecting through openings formed in the slab 38 and terminate in such a relation to the upper face of the metal plate 31 that they are adapted to engage the suit-contact areas 215 to 218, inclusive, which are of such dimensions that they engage the upper' face of the metal plate 31 adjacent the relatively large openings 226 therein, through which the upper ends of the contacts 225V to 223 project without engaging the face plate 31.

Also associated with the bottom 36 of the deck holder 20, are a plurality of denomination-contact-area-engaging plunger contacts 221 to 239, inclusive, which are grouped as shown in Fig. 3 and which are not only identical to the plunger contacts 220 to 223 but are also mounted in and supported by the bottom 36 in the manner described in connection with the plunger contacts 22.6 to 223. The denomination-contact-area-- engagingY plunger contacts 221 to 239 terminate. in such a relation to the upper face of the metal plate 31 that they are adapted to engage. the denomination-contact areas 219, which are of such dimensions thatthey engage the upper face of the metal plate 31 adjacent the relatively large openingsy 241] therein, through which the upper ends of the plunger contacts 221 to 233 inclusive project without engaging the plate 31.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the depending arms of each pair of bell-crank levers 54' support an armature 241, in an operative relation to which an electromagnet 242' is supported on the table bottom 11, the magnet being adapted when energized to move the bell-crank levers in a proper direction and a sufficient distance to cause the friction roller 56 associated therewith to engage the lowermost card of the deck 19 preparatory to the removal of that card from the deck holder 20. inasmuch as the energizing circuit for the magnet 242 is opened, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, before the card undergoing ejection is gripped between the ejector roller 5i! and the pressure roller 60, it becomes necessary to lock the friction roller 56 in engagement with the card to be ejected until at least such time as that card has been gripped between' the ejectork rol-ler 50 and the pressure roller 6G', and to this end an: electromagnetically actuated latch is provided. This latchv is in the form of a bell-crank lever 244l which is pivotally connected to the table bottom I 1 and the horizontal arm of which is provided with a notch 245, adapted to cooperate with a latch bar 243, connected to the lower ends ofl the vertical arms of the bellcrank levers` 54. The vertical arm of the bellcrank lever 224- carriesan armature 241 in operative relation to which an electromagnet 248 is supported by a table bottom I1. The magnet 248 is normally energized, but its associated bellcrank lever 244 is restrained against movement from its position shown at the left in Fig. 4 to its latching position shown at the right in Fig. 4 until the magnet 242 has been energized. As soon as the magnet 242 is energized, its associated bell-crank levers 54 so move as to permit their cooperating bell-crank lever 244 to move into latching position with respect to the latch bar 246, it being understood that the electromagnet 248 is capable of exerting a force on its associated bell-crank lever which is suflicient to overcome the opposing force of its associated compression-spring 255). This compression spring is adapted to move the. bell-crank lever 244 from its latching position, shown at the right in Fig. 4,

to its unlatchedposition, shown at the left in Fig. 4, as soon as its associated electromagnet 258 is deenergized by reason of its circuit being open through any pair of rollers Ell-60, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, the compression spring 25S being carried by a guide rod 251 one end of which is pivot'ally connected to the vertical arm othe bell-crank lever 2M and the other end or which is slidably mounted in a guide 252 secured to the table bottom I Referring to the wiring diagram of Fig. 18, it will be noted that in the circuit 254 of the motor M, which is adapted to be connected into an ordinary house-lighting circuit, there is disposed the motor control switch |24 and the winding 255 of a solenoid 256, which is supported on the base plate S2 on which the motor is mounted and which when energized is adapted to release a brake mechanism 251 associated with the armature shaft of the motor. The brake mechanism 251, together with its associated solenoid 256, is shown only conventionally inasmuch as brakes of this type, which are released under the iniiuence of an energized solenoid and are applied under the influence oi spring pressure, are well known in the art. 1n order to obtain a lower potential than that of ordinary house-lighting currents for the various control circuits of the apparatus, there is provided a transformer T which is supported on the base plate 94 and the primary P of which is connected in parallel with the motor M and the secondary S of which is connected to a return conductor 258 and to a lead conductor 266. The conductor 269 is connected tothe common terminal of a double throw switch26| suitably supported by the table I5 as at one side thereof, reference being had particularly to Figs. 1 and 2. The switch 22| is'adapted to connect the lead 266 to either of the conductors 262 or 263, whereby the apparatus may be conditioned in the first instance for dealing predetermined hands and in thesecond instance for dealing without regard to such hands. The conductor 262 is connected to the terminal end of the contact |6I, reference being had toFig. 7, which contact is maintained in wiping engagement with the peripheral edge of the commutator ring |35 and the conductor 263 is connected to the terminal end of the contact |65, which engagesthe outer end of the conductor strip 26B, reference being had to Figs. 9 and 23, which is electrically connected by reason of its associated brush 2||| to the shaft carrying the contact arm |98. Leading from the suit contacts |52 to |55, are a plurality of conductors 284 to 2551, which are conneet-ed to the lower ends of the suit-contact-areaengaging plunger contactsV 225 to 223 inclusive. Leading from the denomination-contact-areaengaging plunger contacts 221 to 239 inclusive are a plurality of conductors 26S to 289 respec tiveiy. which conducto-rs are connected to the respective plunger contacts. E61' to 19 through their associated compression springs |93 and their conductor strips E610 to |120 by way of their respectively associated spring contacts |61 to |19 inclusive to the terminal ends of which the conduetors 263 to 286 are attached. Leading from the contacts |51 to 565i, are a plurality of conductors 26| to 286, in which are disposed the windings of the magnets 242, which are respectively associated with the ejector units 41 common to the conveyors N', E', S and W and hereinafter respectively referred to as the North, East, South and "West ejector units. The conductors 28| to 284 are connected to a common conductor 285, which is connected to the brush contact 53 engaging the ejector roller 5|! of the West ejector unit G1. The pressure rollers 66 of the West and South ejector units 41 are electrically connected to each other by a conductor 286, inasmuch as that conductor isY connected to the springA bearings 62 in which the shafts 6| of the pressure rollers areV journalled. The ejector rollers 56 of the South and East ejector units 41 'are electrically connected together by reason of the fact that their associated brush contacts 53 are connected by a conductor 281. The pressure rollers 60 of the East" and North ejector units di are electricallyV connected vtogether by a Aconductor 288 inasmuch as that conductor is connected to the .spring bearings 62 in which the shafts 6! v of the pressure rollers are journalled, and the pressure roller 56 ofthe North ejector unit 41 is electrically connected to the secondary winding S of the transformer T by way of the return conductor 258 inasmuch as that conductor is conv nected to the brush contact 53 associated with that roller. Leading from the conductor 260 is a branch conductor 23S which is connected tothe windings oi the several magnets 248 by way of conductors 29%, the windings of the magnets being in turn connected to the conductor 285 by Way of conductors 26|. Y

Leading from the contacts |813 to |83, reference being had to Figs. 9 and 22, are a plurality of K conductors 292 to' 295,'which, as shown in Fig. 18,

are connected respectively to the conductors 28| to 284 and which are adapted, when the switch 26st bridges the gapbetween the conductors 260 and 263, to connect the conductor 26|) with the conductors 26 l Lto 2911 by way oi the conductor |63, contact ist (Fig. 23) conductor strip 268, brush contact 2id, contact flange |96, shaft |95, contact arm |923, the several contacts 294 to 201, their respectively associated conductor strips 224 to 281 and their associated contacts |89 to l83.

Instead of employing the transformer T as an instrumentality for obtaining a current of relativeiy low potential in the various control circuits of which the conductors 256, 260, 262, 263 289 constitute parte, a voltage reducer of the type shown in Fig. 19 may be used. The voltage reducer comprisesa suitable resistance 296, indicated as variable, and is adapted, when connected as shown in the circuits of which the conductors 258, 262, 263 and289 constitute parts, to provide a suitablelow potential current for such circuits regardless of whether the motor M is connected to an A. C. or a D. C. source. much as a further completion of the various control circuits in Fig. 19 would constitute a mere duplication of the greater portion of what is Inas- 55' shown in Fig. 18, itis deemed unnecessary to elabcrate further on the matter of substituting the Variable resistance 295 for the transformer T.

In considering th-e operation of the apparatus, it will be assumed that the switch 26| is positioned as shown in Fig. 18,'that the lowermost card in the deck i9 is the eight of hearts. andV that the selector 2l has just been moved by the turntable |36 into a position .where the spring pressed plunger contacts l 51 to |19 coincide with the radial rows of periorations 2||' which are indicative of thecards ofthe heart-,suit that are to be dealt t'o station S. Under the above assumed conditions, a circuit is established from one terminal of the secondary winding S of thetrans- `former T to the 'other side of such winding, or from one side of theA circuit of the motor M to the other side of such motor circuit if the voltage reducer shown in Fig. 1-9 is employed', through the conductor 255, switch 25|, conductor 252, contact |5i, commutator ring |35, one of the I-I contacts of the commutator ring |35, contact |53, conductor 255, suit-contact-area-engaging plunger contact 22|, one of the contact areas 2| 6 of the card eight of. hearts (depending upon the endfor-end disposition of that card within the deck holder 25), the metal plate 3l of the bottom 365 of the deck holder, one of the denomination contact areas 2|9, individual to the eight of hearts (depending upon the end-for-end dispostion of that card within thev deck holder 25), the denomination-contact-area-engaging plunger contact 233, conductor 274, contact V53, conductor strip H3C, its associated compression spring |93, plung-er contact |73', the metal disc |48 with which the plunger contact |13 engages by way of the perforation 2|| which` is indicative of the eight of hearts, metal plate |36, its associated contact segment S, contact |59, conductor 283, the winding of magnet 242 of the South ejector unit 4l, conductor 285, the brush contact 53 and ejector roller 55 and pressure roller 60 of the West ejector unit 41, conductor 236, the pressure roller 5G and ejector roller 5|) and brush Contact 53 of the South ejector unit 4l, conductor 223i, the brush contact 53 and ejector roller 5S and pressure roller 65 of the East ejector unit 4l, conductor 288, the pressure roller 6U and ejector roller 55 and brush contact 53 of the North ejector unit 41, and the conductor 253. It is to be noted that all of the magnets 243 are normally energized, normally being understood to mean during such time as the rollers 55 and 65 of each ejector unit 4l are maintained in engagement with each -other while the circuit of the motor M is closed, by reason of the fact that the windings of these magnets are connected to the conductor 289 and to the conductor 285 through the respective pairs of conductors 295 and 29|, the return circuit of which the conduc tor 285 forms a part having been already described as passing through the respective pairs of rollers 55-35 and the return conductor 258. From the description of the circuit peculiar to the eight of hearts, it will be understood that the instant that circuit is closed the armature 24| of the South ejector unit 41 will act under the influence of its associated magnet 242 to move the friction roller 55 into engagement with the lowermost card in the deck, namely the eight of hearts, whereupon the normally energized magnet 248, associated with the South ejector unit, will serve to move its associated bell-crank lever 244 into locking engagement with the latch bar 246 despite the opposing force exerted by the spring 25|). The instant the contact areas 2|5 and 2|9 that are individual to the eight of hearts move out of engagement with the plunger contacts 22| and 233 under the influence of the friction roller 55, the magnet 242 is deenergized, but the friction roller 55 is maintained in its position shown at the right in Fig. 4 until such time as the card undergoing ejection has been gripped between the ejector roller 55 and the pressure roller 60 of the South ejectorunit 41, as shown in Fig. 18, whereupon the circuit through the magnet 248 is opened by reason of the separation of the rollers 55 and 55 of the South ejector unit, thus permitting the spring 255 to so move the bell-crank lever 244 as to unlatch the latch bar 245 and permit the friction roller 55 to move by gravity out of Contact with the card undergoing ejection and into a po` sition corresponding to the position of the friction roller appearing at the left in Fig. 4. It is to be noted that during such time as the card is being ejected, no one of the magnets 242 controlling the ejecting operation of the friction rollers 56 can be energized'regardless of any contact that may be made between the next card to be ejected and its corresponding plunger contacts, associated with the bottom 35 of the deck holder 20, or regardless of what may be the relation of the plunger contacts, carried by the closure |87, to the next row or rows of perforations 2| of the selector. Moreover, it is to be noted that the speed of rotation of the selector 2H is such with respect to the linear displacement of any card that such card, once it is started in its travel of delivery, will be gripped by and passed between the ejector roller 55 and the pressure roller 5B before the next row or rows of perforations 2|| move into registration with the plunger contacts of the closure |87. As soon as the card undergoing ejection passesl between and clears the rollers 5U and 60, the magnets 248 are again energized, due to the fact that circuits are established through the respective pairs of rollers Sil-55, whereupon the apparatus is conditioned for operation with respect to the next card to be ejected in a manner similar to the operation just described with respect to the eight of hearts, the station to which the next card will be delivered being, of course, dependent upon the location of the controlling perforation 2| of the selector 2|! with respect to the N, E, S and W" contact segments associated with the turntable |34. The cycle of selective operation of the apparatus continues during the time the selector is completing fourteen revolutions, whereupon the circuit of the motor M is automatically opened by reason of the fact that the switch |24 is moved to open-circuit position under the inuence of its associated spring |3| at such time as the switch control-disc |20 completes one revolution, the disc being geared to the shaft |55 which rotates the turntable |34 in a ratio of 14 to 1, as previously described. The fourteen revolutions of the selector are deemed ample under the most unfavorable conditions, as

-when the order of arrangement of the cards in the deck I9v is such with respect to the perforations 2| in the selector 2|| that thirteen cards of the same suit are to be delivered to the respective stations N, E, S, and W. Should it be found by experiment, however, that fourteen revolutions of the selector are insufficient to effect a complete deal under the most unfavorable conditions, the situation may be readily met, of course, by increasing the gear ratio between the shafts |35 and I5 so as to obtain the desired number of revolutions of the selector for each revolution of the switch control-disc |25. Under the most favorable conditions, as for example when the order of arrangement of the cards in the deck I9 is such with respect to the perforations 2| in the selector 2 that four cards will be delivered to each of the respective stations per revolution of the selector 2| only three and one-quarter revolutions of the selector will be required to effeet the delivery of the iiftyetwo cards of the deck. Under no circumstances will any one of the magnets 242 be actuated pursuant to the last cardejecting operation, due to the presence of a facing 292, of insulating material, carried on the lower face of a follower 298 which is adapted to be placed on the deck of cards i9 when they are introduced into the deck holder 2|l preparatory to a dealing operation, the follower being of m-etal and having sufficient weight to retain the cards in a at condition so as to insure proper engagement of their metallic contact areas with the metal plate 31, and to further insure successive alignment of the cards with the space afforded between the metal plate 31 and the lower end of each side wall 23 of the deck holder, whereby the successive cards may be unobstructedly ejected.

The rules governing the playing of duplicate bridge require the assignment of a vulnerable and a not vulnerable status to the players in a definite order with respect to the deals as, for example, first deal Nobody vulnerable, second deal North and South vulnearable, third deal East and West vulnerable, fourth deal All vulnerable. In order to satisfy this requirement when the apparatus is employed in the dealing of predetermined hands for use in the playing of duplicate bridge, the selectors-which may be of as many different patterns as there are possible deals of four diierent hands each in a deck of cards, and which may be weekly released in grooups of twenty or other quantities for sale to the public by a playing-card or other manufacturer-may be four different colors, for example, green, orange, yellow and red, it being understood that the players status, when hands are dealt in accordance with the green, orange, yellow and red selectors, shall be, respectively, as follows: Nobody Vulnerable, North and South vulnerable, East and West vulnerable, and All vulnerable, and it being further understood that in each weekly issue of selectors there shall be an equal number of the green, the orange, the yellow, and the red selectors. Such a color scheme as that just described, enables one to readily choose, from any number of selectors that he may have acquired from time to time, the proper selectors to effect the required status of the players for an evenings play. The selectors chosen for use in an evenings play may be temporarily numbered on their backs, so as to enable the bidding of the hands dealt in accordance with such selectors, as well as the score resulting from the play of those hands, to be properly noted on a suitable score pad or sheet for both the rst half-play and the second half-play, thus enabling the players, at the end of an evenings play to compare not only partnership scores but also partnership bids. In keeping a record of the bids and scores on the first half-play, the identification number of each selector is observed at the time the selector is introduced into the apparatus and is then noted on the score pad. As the bidding of the hands dealt in accordance with any given selector progresses, the bids are noted on the score pad in a proper relation to the already entered identication number of that selector; and after the playing of the hands has been cornpleted, the score is similarly entered on the score pad. After the rst half-play has been completed, the selectors are shuilied preparatory to the beginning of the second half-play. In keeping a record of the bids and scores on the second halfplay, it is to be noted that the bids of the hands dealt in accordance with any given selector and the score resulting from the play of those hands are entered on the score pad in a proper relation to each other, and that it is not until after the playing of those hands has been completed is the identifying number of the selector by which the deal was effected to be observed, such observation being made upon removal of the selector from the apparatus whereupon its identifying number is entered in a proper relation to the already recorded bids and score peculiar to that record on the second half-play.

If desired, the selectors may be permanently numbered successively on their backs by the playing-card or other manufacturer for the purpose of facilitating the keeping, as described, of a comparative record of partnership bids and scores, and for the purpose of permanently identifying the selectors so that authorities on the subject of bridge may periodically issue an upto-date printed publication, in text book or other form, having to do with the par value of ythe hands, represented by the respective selectors a1- ready released, and based on theoretically perfect bidding and theoretically perfect play from both an offensive and a ldefensive viewpoint.

In some cases it may be desirable to print or otherwise inscribe on the backs of the selectors, at the time they are manufactured, their respective par values, as for example, the theoretically perfect bids of the hands and the score that should result from such hands when played theoretically perfect from both an offensive and a defensive viewpoint.

Instead of printing the par Value on the selectors as above mentioned, an experts analysis of the hands represented by the respective selectors may be recorded thereon in his own words, especially if Celluloid is employed as the material from which the lselectors are made, inasmuch as that material is readily adapted for use in certain recording processesy whereinthe sound track is cut in the rotating record blank by a suitable tool which is caused to vibrate during the recording period in accordance with the sound Waves peculiar to the subject-matter to be recorded. Once an analysis of the hands of any selector has beenA recorded, it can be reproduced by the ald of an ordinary phonograph, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

When it is desired to condition the apparatus for dealing the cards to the respective stations without regard to their suit or denominational values, as for example whenthe apparatus is to be employed in connection with the playing of rubber bridge, the switch 26| is moved from its position shown in Fig. 18 to a bridging position with respect to the conductors 260 and 263, thereby cutting out of circuit the conductor 202, the conductors 264 to 261 and 268 to 280 as well as portions of conductors 28| to 284. The operation of the apparatus is then such that, as the contact arm |98 engages the contacts 204, 205, 206 and 201 by reason of the fact that the shaft |95 is frictionally connected to and rotates with the shaft |38, the magnets 242 of the North, East, South and West ejector units 41 will be energized and deenergized in the order named since the conductors 28| to 284 are connected through conductors 202 to 295 to the contacts 204 to 201 in the manner previously described. It is to be noted that the contacts 204 to 201, which respectively control the operation of the North, East, South and West ejector units 41, are identified as W, N, E, and S, respectively, so that if North, for example, is selected as the dealer at the beginning of an evenings play, the contact arm |98 may be set in engagement with the proper contact, namely the North contact 205, to effect delivery to East of the rst card to be dealt, the remaining cards being delivered in succession to the players in the order of South, West, North, East, and so on until the fifty-two cards have been distributed. During the distribution of the cards, thirteen revolutions of the shaft |95 are required, but inasmuch as this shaft is driven by the shaft ESS which rotates with the turntable |34, it will make fourteen revolutions before coming to rest due to the automatic opening of the circuit of the motor M through the switch 24, as previously described in connection with the operation of the apparatus When employed in dealing predetermined hands. Since the contact arm |93, carried by the shaft H95, Will come to rest at .its initial starting point, namely, in contact with the North contact 205, it will there serve to indicate, preparatory to the next deal, that North Was the previous dealer. Before initiating the next deal, the shaft 95 is moved one-quarter turn, thus bringing its associated contact arm 98 into engagement with the East contact 296 so that When the next deal is initiated the first card will be delivered to the South player. Such quarterturn advances of the contact arm |93 is resorted to after each deal and prior to the next succeeding deal, with the result that the f'lrst card dealt on each deal is delivered to the player next following the dealer.

Aside from the slight modifications shown herein, various other changes may, of course, be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An apparatus for dealing playing cards to selected stations, comprising a deck of cards, each card having an individual characteristic adapted for selective cooperation with card control and ejecting means, a card receptacle for holding the deck of cards, card control means, card ejecting means, said card control means and said card ejecting means being under the control of and responsive to the individual characteristic of each card to effect the delivery to selected stations of individual cards to form predetermined hands, manually controlled means operable at Will for rendering said individual characteristic of each card ineffective with respect to said card control means and for conditioning said card ejecting means toeffect the delivery to the respective stations o cards to form other than predetermined hands, and station control means operable in synchrony with said card ej ecting means pursuant to the operation of said manually controlled means to insure the delivery to a predetermined station of the first card to be dealt from the deck.

2. An apparatus for dealing playing cards to selected stations, comprising a deck of cards, each card having an individual characteristic adapted for selective cooperation with card control and ejecting means, a card receptacle for holding the deck o-f cards, card control means, card ejecting means, said card control means and said card ejecting means being under the control of and responsive to the individual characteristic of each card to effectthe delivery to selected stations of individual cards to form predetermined hands, manually controlled means operable at Will for rendering said individual characteristic of each card ineffective with respect to said card control means and for conditioning said cardejecting means to effect the delivery to the respective stations of cards to form other than predetermined hands, station control means operable in synchrony with said card ejecting means pursuant to the operation of said manually controlled means to insure the delivery to a predetermined station of the first card to be dealt from the deck, such predetermined station correspending to the player next following the imaginary dealer in a definite dealing order of the players, and indicating means functioning upon the termination of a complete dealing operation to indicate the imaginary dealer.

3. An apparatus for dealing playing cards to selected stations, comprising a deck of cards, each card having an individual characteristic adapted for selective cooperation With card control means, a card receptacle for holding the deck of cards, a plurality of card-ejecting devicesy for delivering the cards to said stations, card control means under the control of and responsive to the individual characteristic of each card to effect the delivery to selected stations of individual cards to form predetermined hands, and manually controlled means operable at will for rendering said individual characteristic of each card ineifective and for establishing a definite order of operation of the card ejecting devices whereby the cards irrespective of their said individual characteristics will be delivered to the respective stations to form other than predetermined hands.

4. An apparatus for dealing playing cards to selected stations, comprising a deck of cards, each card having an individual characteristic adapted for selective cooperation with card control and ejecting means, a card receptacle for holding the deck of cards, electro-responsive card control means, electro-responsive card ejecting means, said card control means and 'said card ejecting means being under the control of and responsive to the individual characteristic of each card to effect the delivery to selected stations of individual cards to form predetermined hands', said card control and ejecting means including a circuit selector, and manually controlled circuit interruptingv means operable at will for Arendering said individual characteristic of each card ineffective with respect to said card control means and for conditioning said card ejecting means to eiect the delivery to the respective stations of cards to form other than predetermined hands.

5. An apparatus for dealing playing cards to l selected stations, comprising a deck of cards, each card having an individual characteristic adapted for selective cooperation With card control meansa card receptacle for holding the deck of cards, a plurality of electro-responsive cardejecting devices for delivering the cards to said stations, card control means under the control of and responsive to the individual characteristic of each card to effect the delivery to selected stations of individual cards to form predetermined hands, said card control means including a circuit selector, and manually controlled circuit interrupting means operable at Will for rendering the individual characteristic of each card in effective and for establishing a definite order of operation of the card ejecting devices whereby the cards irrespective of their said individual characteristics will be delivered tothe respective stations to form other than predetermined hands.

6. An apparatus for delivering predetermined cards to predetermined stations, comprising a supply group of cards each having an individual control characteristic physically differentiating that card from all other cards of said group, a card receptacle for holding said group of cards, and card control and ejecting means under the control of and responsive to the individual control characterstic of successive cards while in supply-group position to eiect delivery to predetermined stations respectively of a sub-group of predetermined cards physically diierentiating from each other according to their individual control characteristics.

'7. An apparatus for delivering predetermined cards to predetermined stations, comprising a supply group of cards each having an individual circuit-control characteristic physically differentiating that card from all other cards of said group, a card receptacle for holding said group of cards, and electro-responsive card control and ejecting means under the control of and responsive to the individual circuit-control characteristic of successive cards While in supply-group position to eiect delivery to predetermined stations respectively oi a sub-group of predetermined cards physically differentiating from each other according to their individual circuit-control characteristics.

8. An apparatus for delivering predetermined cards to predetermined stations, comprising a supply group of cards each having an individual circuit-control characteristic physicaly differentiating that card from all other cards ofl said group, a card receptacle for holding said group of cards, and electro-responsive card control and ejecting means under the control of and responsive to the individual circuit-control characteristic of successive cards While in supplygroup position to effect delivery to predetermined stations respectively of a sub-group of predetermined cards physically diierentiating from each other according to their individual circuit-control characteristics, said card control and ejecting means including a circuit selector having circuitcontrol characteristics corresponding respectively to the circuit-control characteristics peculiar to said supply group of cards.

9. An apparatus for delivering predetermined cards to predetermined stations, comprising a supply group of cards each having an individual circuit-control characteristic physically differentiating that card from all other cards of said group, a card receptacle for holding said group of cards, and electro-responsive card control and ejecting means under the control of and responsive to the individual circuit-control characteristic of successive cards while in supply-group position to eiTect delivery to predetermined stations respectively of a sub-group of predetermined cards physically differentiating from each other according to their individual circuit-control characteristics, said card control and ejecting means including a circuit selector having circuit-control characteristics corresponding respectively to the circuit-control characteristics peculiar to said supply group of cards and being operable at one time in one position to insure delivery to said predetermined stations respectively of said sub-group of predetermined cards and being operable at another time in another position to insure delivery to other predetermined stations respectively ofV said sub-group of predetermined cards.

10. An apparatus for delivering predetermined cards to predetermined stations, comprising a supply group of cards each having an individual control characteristic physically diierentiating that card from all other cards of said group, a card receptacle for holding said group of cards, a plurality of card ejecting devices, and card control means under the control of and responsive to the individual control characteristic of successive cards While in supply-group position to render said ejecting devices selectively eiective to deliverto predetermined stations respectively a subgroup of predetermined-cards physically diierentiatingl from each other according to their individual control characteristics.

1l. An apparatus for delivering predetermined cards to predetermined stations, comprising a supply group of cards each having an individual circuit-control characteristic physically diierentiating that card from all otherv cards of said group, a card receptacle for holding said group of cards, a plurality of electro-responsive card ejecting devices, and card control means under the control of and responsive to the individual circuit-control characteristic of successive cards while in supply-group positionl to render said ejecting devices selectively eiective to deliver to predetermined stations respectively a sub-group of predetermined cards physicaliy differentiating from each other according to their individual circuit-control characteristics.

l2. An apparatus for delivering predetermined cards to predetermined stations, comprising a supply group of cards each having an individual circuit-control characteristicphysically differentiating that card from all other cards of said group, a card receptacle for holding said group of cards, a plurality of electro-responsive card ejecting devices, and card control means under the control of and responsive to the individual circuit-control characteristic of successive cards While in supply-group position to render said ejecting devices selectively effective to deliver to predetermined stations respectively a sub-group of predetermined cards physically differentiating from each other according to vtheir individual circuit-control characteristics, said card control means including a circuit selector having circuitcontrol -characteristics corresponding respectively to the circuit-control characteristics peculiar to said supply group of cards.

13. An apparatus for delivering predetermined cards to predetermined stations, comprising a supply group of cards each having an individual circuit-control characteristic physically differentiating that card from all other cards of said group, a card receptacle for holding said groupof cards, a plurality of electro-responsive card ejecting devices, and card control means under the control of and responsive to the individual circuit-control characteristic of successive cards While in supply-group position to render said ejecting devices selectively effective to deliver to predetermined stations respectively a sub-group of predetermined cards physically differentiating from each other according 'to their individual circuit-control characteristics, said card control means including a circuit selector having circuitcontrol characteristics corresponding respectively to the circuit-control characteristics peculiar to said supply group of cards and being operable at one time in one position to insure delivery to said predetermined stations respectively of said subgroup of predetermined cards and being operable at another time in another position to insure delivery to other predetermined stations respectively of said sub-group'of predetermined cards.

le. An apparatus for dealing predetermined playing cards to predetermined stations,.comprising a deck of cards each having an individual control characteristic indicative of its suit and denomination and physically diierentiating that card from all other cards of said deck, a card receptacle for holding said deck of cards, card 

